Though from an humble stock, undoubtedly
Was fashion'd to much honour, from his cradle
He was a scholar, and a ripe and good one;
Exceeding wife, fair spoken, and perfuading;
Lofty and four to them, that lov'd him not;
But to those men, that fought him, fweet as fummer.
And though he were unfatisfy'd in getting,
(Which was a fin) yet in beftowing, Madam,
He was most princely: Ever witness for him
Thofe twins of learning that he rais'd in you,
Ipfwich and Oxford! one of which fell with him,
Unwilling to out-live the good he did it :
The other, though unfinifh'd, yet so famous,
So excellent in art, and still so rifing,
That Christendom shall ever speak his virtue.
His overthrow heap'd happiness upon him;
For then, and not till then, he felt himself,
And found the blessedness of being little :
And, to add greater honours to his age
Than man could give him, he dy'd, fearing God.
Cath. After my death I wish no other herald,
No other fpeaker of my living actions,
To keep mine honour from corruption,
But fuch an honeft chronicler as Griffith.
Whom I most hated living, thou haft made me,
With thy religious truth and modefty,
Now in his afhes honour. Peace be with him!
Patience, be near me ftill, and fet me lower.
I have not long to trouble thee. Good Griffith,
Cause the musicians play me that fad note,
I nam'd my knell; whilft I fit meditating
On that celestial harmony I go to.
Grif. She is afleep: good wench, let's fit down quiet, For fear we wake her. Softly, gentle Patience.
The Vifion. Enter folemnly
Enter folemnly one after another, fix perfonages,
clad in white robes, wearing on their heads garlands of
bays, and golden vizards on their faces; branches of bays,
or palm in their hands. They first congee unto her, then
dance; and, at certain changes, the first two hold a spare
garland over her head; at which, the other four make
reverend curtfies. Then the two, that held the garland,
deliver the fame to the other next two; who observe the
fame order in their changes, and holding the garland over
ber bead: Which done, they deliver the fame garland to
the last two, who likewife obferve the fame order: (At
which, as it were by inspiration, he makes in her fleep
figns of rejoycing, and holdeth up her hands to heaven.)
And fo in their dancing vanish, carrying the garland with
them. The mufick continues.
Cath. Spirits of peace, where are ye? are ye gone?
And leave me here in wretchedness behind ye?
Grif. Madam, we're here.
Cath. It is not you I call for ;
Saw ye none enter, fince I flept?
Grif. None, madam.
Cath. No? faw you not ev'n now a blessed troop
Invite me to a banquet, whofe bright faces
Caft thousand beams upon me, like the fun?
They promis'd me eternal happiness,
And brought me garlands, Griffith, which I feel
I am not worthy yet to wear: I fhall affuredly.
Grif. I am moft joyful, madam, fuch good dreams
Poffefs your fancy.
Cath. Bid the mufick leave,
'Tis harsh and heavy to me.
How much her Grace is alter'd on the fudden?
How long her face is drawn? how pale fhe looks,
And of an earthy cold? obferve her eyes.
Grif. She is going, wench. Pray, pray,-
Pat. Heav'n comfort her!
Enter a Meffenger.
Mef. And't like your Grace
Cath. You are a fawcy fellow,
Deserve we no more rev'rence?
Grif. You're to blame,
Knowing, fhe will not lofe her wonted greatness,
To use fo rude behaviour. Go to, kneel.
Mef. I humbly do intreat your Highness' pardon :
My hafte made me unmannerly. There is ftaying
A gentleman, fent from the King, to fee you."
Cath. Admit him entrance, Griffith. But this fellow Let me ne'er fee again. [Exit Meffenger.
You should be lord ambassador from the Emperor,
My royal nephew; and your name Capucius.
Cap. Madam, the fame, your fervant.
The times and titles now are alter'd strangely
With me, fince first you knew me. But, I pray you,
What is your pleasure with me?
Firft, mine own fervice to your Grace; the next,
The King's request that I would vifit you;
Who grieves much for your weakness, and by me
Sends you his princely commendations,
And heartily intreats you take good comfort.
Cath. O my good lord, that comfort comes too late 'Tis like a pardon after execution;
That gentle phyfick, giv'n in time, had cur'd me;
But now I'm paft all comforts here, but prayers.
How does his Highnefs?
Cap. Madam, in good health.
Cath. So may he ever do, and ever flourish,
When I fhall dwell with worms, and my poor name
Banish'd the Kingdom! Patience, is that letter,
I caus'd you write, yet fent away?
Cath. Sir, I muft humbly pray you to deliver This to my lord the King.
Cap. Most willing, madam.
Cath. In which I have commended to his goodness
The model of our chafte loves, his young daughter;
(The dews of heav'n fall thick in bleffings on her!)
Befeeching him to give her virtuous Breeding,
(She's young, and of a noble modeft nature;
I hope, the will deferve well) and a little
To love her for her mother's fake, that lov'd him,
Heav'n knows, how dearly! my next poor petition
Is, that his noble Grace would have Some pity
Upon my wretched women, that fo long
Have follow'd both my fortunes faithfully;
Of which there is not one, I dare avow,
(And now I fhould not lye) but well deferve,
For virtue and true beauty of the foul,
For honefty and decent carriage,
A right good husband, let him be a noble:
And, fure, thofe men are happy, that fhall have 'em.
The last is for my men; they are the pooreft,
But poverty could never draw 'em from me;
That they may have their wages duly paid 'em,
And fomething over to remember me.
If heav'n had pleas'd to've giv'n me longer life
And able means, we had not parted thus.
These are the whole contents. And, good my lord,
By that you love the deareft in this world,
As you wish chriftian peace to fouls departed,
Stand thefe poor peoples friend, and urge the King
To do me this last right.
Cap. By heav'n, I will ;
Or let me lofe the fashion of a man.
Cath. I thank you, honeft lord. Remember me
In all humility unto his Highness;
And tell him, his long trouble now is paffing
Out of this world. Tell him, in death I bleft him;
For fo I will-mine eyes grow dim. Farewel,
My lord Griffith, farewel- -nay, Patience,
You must not leave me yet. I must to bed-
VOL. V.
F
Call in more women-When I'm dead, good wench,
Let me be us❜d with honour ; ftrew me over
With maiden flow'rs, that all the world may know
I was a chaste wife to my grave: embalm me,
Then lay me forth; although un-queen'd, yet like
A Queen, and daughter to a King, interr me.
I can no more
[Exeunt, leading Catharine.
SCENE, before the Palace.
Enter Gardiner Bishop of Winchefter, a Page with a torch before him, met by Sir Thomas Lovel.
T'S one a clock, boy, is't not?
Boy. It hath ftruck.
Gard. Thefe fhould be hours for neceffities,
Not for delights; times, to repair our nature
With comforting repofe, and not for us
To waste thefe times. Good hour of night, Sir Thomas; Whither fo late?
Lov. Came you from the King, my lord?
Gard. I did, Sir Thomas, and left him at Primero With the Duke of Suffolk.
Lov. I muft to him too,
Before he go to bed. I'll take my leave.
Gard. Not yet, Sir Thomas Lovel; what's the matter?
It seems, you are in hafte: And if there be
No great offence belongs to't, give your friend
Some touch of your late bufinefs. Affairs, that walk
(As they Say, fpirits do) at midnight, have
In them a wilder nature, than the business
That feeks dispatch by day.
|